Funnel-block for partitions of buildings



(No1V70deL) D.'SHEA & R. TREFETHEN.

FUNNEL BLOCK FOR PARTITIONSOP BUILDINGS. No. 257,771. Patented May 9, 1882'.

*WlfNEEEE; I WENTEIF QM W I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,DENNIS SHEA, OF'PORTSMOUTH, AND ROMANZO TREFETHEN, OF DOVER, N EW HAMPSHIRE.

FUNNEL-BLOCK FOR PARTITIONS OF BUILDINGS.

SPEGIFIOATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 257,771, dated May 9, 1882. Application filed December 23, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DENNIS SHEA, of Portsmouth, in thecounty of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, andROMANZO TREFETHEN, of Dover, in the county of Straflord and-State aforesaid, citizens of the United States, have invented an Improvement in Funnel-Blocks for Partitions of Buildings, of which the fol- ,lowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of funnel-blocks made in accordance with our invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of our improved block applied to the partition of abuilding. Fig. at is a side elevation of the same, illustrating the manner in which it is supported between the studs by the laths.

Theordinaryrectangularfunnel-blocks which are used in the partitions of buildings to prevent the contact with the surrounding woodwork of stove-funnels passing through them have hitherto been made of uniform thickness throughout, with smooth level faces adapted to lie flush with the surfaces of the partitions in which they are placed. Funnel-blocks of this description are supported in place between the studs by means of a frame built especially for the purpose, within which the block is inserted and tightly wedged to prevent it from being pushed through from either side, the thickness of the block being somewhat greater than that of the studs, so that when the laths and plasterin g are applied the latter can be made to lie fiush with thesurface of the block or extend over it, as desired. These funnel-blocks are, however, objectionable, for the reason that the necessity of constructing special frames for holding them adds considerably to the cost of building, while, should the surrounding woodwork shrink, the block will become loose, and as there is nothing to hold it in place within its frame or aperture it is then liable to be displaced by jarring or other cause, so as to project on one side or the other beyond the sur- .face of the plastering, thus marring the appearance of the apartment. Y

Our invention has for its object to overcome these difficulties; and it consists in a funnelblock having rabbeted edges on each side,formin g tongues or projecting portions of less thickness than the body or main portion, the shoulders thus formed enabling the block to rest directly upon thelaths, which fit into the rabbets at its edges, thus enabling us to dispense with the ordinary supporting-frame heretofore used, while the tongues extending out between the two series of laths on opposite sides of the partition serve to effectually hold the block in place at all times, as desired.

In the said drawings, A, Fig. 1, represents a funnel-block composed of artificial stone, soapstone, or other suitable material. Around the edges of this block, on both sides, are rab bets or grooves I), forming tongues or projecting portions 0, of less thickness than the body or main portion of the block. When the block is to be set into a partition, B, the laths cl, Figs. 3 and 4, are first nailed to the studs 6 up to the point where it is desired to insert the block,

which is then put in place, with the shoulders I fresting on the upperedges of the lathe, which fit into the rabbets or grooves 11, and thus support the block without the employment of the frame heretofore necessary, the cost of which is thus saved. The laths are then nailed on against the upper tongue, 0, and around the sides of the block, as seen in Fig. 4, when the partition is ready for the plaster, the tongues 0 extending out and fitting between the two series of laths 01 upon opposite sides of the partition, as seen in Fig. 3, and thus serving to effectually hold the block in place against any force or jar which may tend to pushit out from eitherside, no wedges or other fastening devices being required, as the block cannot be come loose or displaced by reason of any shrinkage of the surrounding wood-work. The thickness'of the body or main portion of the block is such that its faces will project out beyond the surfaces of the laths sufficiently far to allow the surface of the plaster to lieflush therewith, as would bethe case if a soapstone block were employed, to which plaster would not adhere; but where the block is composed of artificial stone or other substance to which plaster will adhere its face may be coated, if desired, with plaster up to the edges of the funnel-hole g, as seen in Fig. 3, in which case the faces of the funnel-block would be made to project even with the faces of the lath s, or only a little beyond them. Where the studs are placed so near together that the block will j ust 5 fit between them, two of its edges onlyon each side would require to be rabbeted, as seen in Fig. 2.

Where the funnel-block is composed of artificial stone or cement which can be molded,

10 our improvement adds nothing to the cost of the block, while by its use much time and 1abor can be saved and a neaterand more substantial job secured than is possible with a block of the old construction.

15 Weareawarethatheretoforestove-pipethimbles have been constructed with an interior sheet-metal cylinder having projecting edges and surrounded by a perforated sheet-metal drum, against the periphery of which the laths 20 rest, and which is secured to said laths or to vblock, A, having its edges rabbeted at b on each side to form tongues or projections c of less thickness than the body of the block, and 0 adapted to fit between the two series of laths on opposite sides of a partition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness our hands this 20th day of December, A. D. 1881.

DENNIS SHEA. ROMANZO TREFETHEN. In presence of- JOHN EMERY, JOHN SHEA. 

